Tour
historic Argyll and the road to the Isles
Dramatic
mountain peaks tower over moors dotted with tumble-down
crofts and castles laid waste in clan feuds. Icy streams
ripple through wooded glens and into lochs teeming with
salmon and trout -- the delight of anglers. Golden eagles
soar above the rocky crags and red deer roam the moors,
near scattered villages haunted by tales of murder and treachery
in days gone by.
Achnacloich
Woodland Garden
Castellated
mansion on promontory among gardens protected by oaks and
larches. Views west to Mull and east to Ben Cruachan.
Ardanaiseig
Gardens
Rhododendrons
and azaleas set paths ablaze with colour in wood-land gardens
overlooking Loch Awe. Walled garden, 1 acre, with herbaceous
borders.
Ardrishaig
Sailing
boats moor in harbour at southern end of 9 mile long Crinan
canal, started l794 by John Ronnie to link Loch Fyne with
Atlantic Ocean and cut out the 120 mile voyage round Kintyre.
Argyll
Wildlife Park
Thousands
of wildfowl feed on the 60 acre reserve, which also has
a large collection of owls.
Auchindrain
Open Air Museum
Restored
cottages and barns survive from ancient communal farm by
families who shared Visitor centre shows life of Highlanders
in past centuries.
Barcaldine
Crofters'
fields surround scattered houses. Huge Douglas firs line
paths to Gleann Dubh, where waterfalls plunge. Views of
the Western Isles from reservoir.
Benmore
Dawn
redwoods and eucalyptuses line forest paths near Loch Eck.
Avenue of 130ft Wellingtonias leads to grounds of Benmore
House and botanic garden.
Bonawe
Restored
1753 charcoal ironworks above Loch Etive. Exhibition of
smelting process and local life. Boat cruises leave from
pier.
Castle
Sween
Probably
Scotland's earliest stone castle, built in mid-12th century.
Stronghold of the MacSween family; destroyed in 1647. Ruins
retain their original proportions.
Clachan
Bridge
Humpbacked
stone 'Bridge over Atlantic', designed by Thomas Telford
1792, links Seil Island to mainland across arm of ocean.
Cornalees
Footpaths
skirt reservoirs and hill-side channels built 1827 by Robert
Thom to serve textile mills. Visitor centre shows history.
Nature trail to Shielhill Glen with waterfall.
Connel
Falls
of Lora swirl beneath bridge across narrows of Loch Etive.
Stained glass in village church depicts bridge and falls.
Crarae
Glen Garden
Rare
trees and rhododendrons flourish here. Associated garden
centre sells shrubs and trees.
Crinan
Yachts
and fishing boats pass through locks at terminus of Crinan
Canal. Duntrune Castle (closed to public) has skeleton of
MacDonald piper imprisoned by Campbells in 17th century.
Dunadd
Hill-Fort
Stone
walls of ancient fort. Carvings on rock face thought to
mark Pictish victory in AD 683.
Dunoon
Resort
noted for sandy bays and castle burned in 1685. Hillside
statue of Mary Campbell, Burns's 'Highland Mary', who was
born here. Holy Loch Farm has rare breeds of cattle and
horses.
Dunstaffnage
Castle
Castle
remains cling-to black crag on or near site of capital of
Dalriada, original Scots kingdom. Campbells were castle
governors in medieval times. Many buried in roofless chapel
in wood.
Easdale
Peaks
of Dun More look down on old slate quarries. Museum of 1800's
industrial and domestic life.
Eredine
Forest
Dense
forest skirts lochside road, ideal for picnics. View of
Innis Chonnell Island with ruins of former Campbell stronghold.
Glen
Nant
Trails
explore oak and hazel woods in narrow glen. Charcoal hearths
once fuelled Bonawe ironworks nearby.
Helensburgh
Fishing,
sailing and golf resort, backed by hills and glens. Obelisk
memorial to steamship pioneer Henry Bell. Charles Rennie
Mackintosh designed The Hill House; special display on architect.
Inveraray
Hereditary
seat of Dukes of Argyll. Campbell chiefs ruled from 15th
century in blue-grey castle. Tapestries, paintings and swords
on display. Story of Scot-fish crime and punishment in Inveraray
Jail, with reconstructed prison cells and torture scenes.
Inverliever
Forest
Switchback
road through forest inhabited by deer and badgers. Paths
from Dalavich village to waterfalls and hill-top views.
Kilmartin
Bronze
Age symbols adorn burial chambers in village. Medieval stone
sculptures in churchyard.
Kilmory
Ruined
church contains medieval cross and Celtic grave slabs. Views
look across to Papa of Jura.
Kilmory
Castle Gardens
Rare
alpines, ferns and rhododendrons line the woodland paths
in these gardens started in 1770s.
Kilmun
Arboretum
Pathways
weave among pines, hemlocks, cedars, cypresses, dawn redwoods,
and eucalyptuses.
Lismore
Island
Mountains
embrace site founded AD 580 by St Moluaig. Parish church
set in 13th-century cathedral destroyed in Reformation.
Lochawe
Resort
overlooks narrow loch with fishing for salmon and trout.
Robert Bruce memorial chapel in 1881 St Conan's Kirk. Kilchurn
Castle, built 1440, on loch shore.
Loch
Creran
Seals
gambol in well-lit tanks at Sea Life Centre. Eels, dogfish,
salmon, cod and bass also on view. Hillside walks above
17th-century Barcaldine Castle.
Lochgilphead
Crescent
of stone-built houses overlooks loch. Bronze Age carvings
on rocks near standing stone at Achnabreck.
Oban
Sheltered
bay with fishing boats and Hebrides ferries. Creeper-clad
ruin of Dunollie Castle, former MacDougall stronghold. McCaig's
Tower above town is Colosseum replica built 1890s.
Port
Appin
Whitewashed
hamlet has wildlife museum with local nature display. Castle
Stalker, built 14th century, on offshore island.
Rosneath
Sailing
centre set among trees. Renowned for healing waters of St
Modan's Well.
St
Columba's Cave
Cave
with rock-shelf and altar associated with St Columba's arrival
in Scotland. Occupied since Middle Stone Age.
Strone
House Gardens
Pinetum
contains tallest tree in Britain -- a 203ft grand fir (Abies
grandis). Exotic plants and shrubs.
Taynuilt
Anglers
and walkers converge on village dominated by 3,695ft Ben
Cruachan. Nelson memorial erected in 1805. Woodland nature
reserve at Glen Nant.
Tayvallich
Natural
harbour on shores of Loch a' Bhealaich. Walks lead into
Knapdale and west to Carsaig Bay, overlooked by hills of
Jura.
Tighnabruaich
Cottages
scattered on hillside of woods and gardens. To the north
lies viewpoint of Kyles of Bute and forest trail.
If you would like to visit this area as part of a highly
personalized small group tour of my native Scotland please
e-mail me at;
